How to create a boot key and install Linux?

Linux has become one of the easiest operating systems to use on the market. Graphical interfaces, for the most part, are so well designed that anyone can navigate. And for those who are afraid to type the command line, know that those days are over.

Of course, if you really want to get the most out of Linux brute force, you can use the command line, but that’s not required. That’s the whole point.

But despite the ease with which we can now use the Linux desktop, one thing still gets in the way: installation! However, keep in mind that Linux installation processes have become very easy. In fact, it only takes a few clicks to get Linux up and running. But before enjoying the free software, you must first create a bootable USB drive.

And don’t worry, it’s very simple. Here’s how.

Prerequisites

To create a bootable USB key, you will need the following:

• ISO image of the distribution you want to use;
• computer with USB port;
• USB key with a capacity of at least 16 GB;
• program to create a boot key.

There are many tools available to help you create a bootable USB drive. And since we use different operating systems, I’ll show you the steps using software available for both Linux, macOS and Windows. This is UNetbootin software. You can easily install UNetbootin by downloading the executable to your desktop and running it (it installs like most apps on macOS and Windows).

As for the ISO image, here are the download links for five of my favorite distributions:

That’s all you need. Let’s start creating.

How to create a bootable flash drive?

1. Insert a USB stick

Insert the USB stick into the computer where you installed UNetbootin. After the key is inserted, pay attention to the name given by the system.

2. Run UNetbootin

From your computer’s desktop menu, run the UNetbootin installation.

3. Choose your distribution

You have two options available. You can use the ISO image of the distribution you downloaded, or choose a distribution from a list pre-configured by UNetbootin.

If you choose one of the pre-configured distributions, be sure to select the most recent version from the UNetbootin drop-down menu.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET.

4. Select USB storage

Make sure the USB device is selected from the drop-down menu. Kind, then select the name of the USB flash drive. Make sure you select the correct drive, as UNetbootin will erase everything on the drive you choose. For this reason, I advise you to disable all external drives other than the one that will serve as your boot drive.

5. Burn the image

Once all this is done, click FINE and the process starts. UNetbootin will first download the required ISO image (if you chose one of the pre-configured images), then extract and copy the files, install the bootloader, and complete the process.

Depending on whether you need to download the distribution, the speed of your network, and the speed of your computer, this process should not take more than 5-15 minutes. UNetbootin may hang halfway through extracting and copying files. Be patient and the process will complete.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET.

When the process is complete, click Leave, safely remove the USB stick and you’re done. You can now insert the USB key into the machine that will serve as your new Linux desktop, start the machine, and begin installing the operating system.

Source: .com